Christian Standard Bible
Numbers 24:13
13If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says.
Numbers 24:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?
- New International Version (NIV)‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’?
- English Standard Version (ESV)'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak'?
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak’?
Context of Numbers 24:13
11Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.” 12Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me: If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says. 14Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.” 15Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 24:13 word by word
אִם־יִתֶּן־לִ֨י בָלָ֜ק מְלֹ֣א בֵיתוֹ֮ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָב֒ לֹ֣א אוּכַ֗ל לַעֲבֹר֙ אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת טוֹבָ֛ה א֥וֹ רָעָ֖ה מִלִּבִּ֑י אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- would giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- me his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- fullמְלֹאmelô' melô' melô · fullnessH4393
- of silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- and goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
- I cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- go beyondעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: trespassH5674
- the commandmentפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896
- or badרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
- of mine own mindלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- saithדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
Cross-references for Numbers 24:13
- Numbers 24:17I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites.
- Numbers 31:7They waged war against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and killed every male.
- Micah 6:5My people, remember what King Balak of Moab proposed, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from the Acacia Grove to Gilgal so that you may acknowledge the Lord’s righteous acts.
- Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Genesis 49:1Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.
- Isaiah 24:22They will be gathered together like prisoners in a pit. They will be confined to a dungeon; after many days they will be punished.
- Jeremiah 48:47Yet, I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the last days. This is the Lord’s declaration. The judgment on Moab ends here.
- Jeremiah 49:39Yet, in the last days, I will restore the fortunes of Elam. This is the Lord’s declaration.
- Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay in bed were these:
- Daniel 10:14Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.”
- Hosea 3:5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.
- Acts 2:17And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
- 2 Timothy 3:1But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.
Commentaries on Numbers 24:13
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-14Verses 10-14 This vain attempt to curse Israel is ended. Balak broke out into a rage against Balaam, and expressed great vexation. Balaam has a very full excuse; God restrained him from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he would not have uttered.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14Unhappy with Balaam's blessing, Balak hoped a new location would change the outcome. Although the exact location of Mount Peor is unknown, it was probably near a worship site for Baal of Peor and the Beth-peor (compare 25:3, 5). See Deuteronomy 3:29; 34:6 for where they buried Moses.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1410-14. Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together--The "smiting of the hands together" is, among Oriental people, an indication of the most violent rage (see Eze 21:17; 22:13) and ignominious dismissal.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 24:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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